Riedel Communications has supplied an integrated backstage communications and production infrastructure for Berliner Ensemble, one of Berlin’s major theatre companies.
The project, delivered in collaboration with planning office MMT, brings together intercom, signal distribution, recording and playout, and centralised control for day-to-day theatre production at the historic Theater am Schiffbauerdamm.
Berliner Ensemble presents around 600 performances each year, alongside guest productions in Germany and abroad, creating high demands for reliable communication and technical coordination across the venue.
The Riedel Stage Systems deployment connects key areas including the stage, technical departments and control room. The installation combines Artist intercom, 1200 Series SmartPanels, Bolero wireless beltpacks, MediorNet MicroN, SimplyLive and hi human interface within a single workflow environment.
MediorNet connects the three buildings on the campus, providing zero-latency video and audio signal distribution across the site. SimplyLive supports recording and playout workflows, particularly during rehearsals, while hi human interface provides an operating layer for stage management, bringing communication, monitoring and control functions into a theatre-focused user interface.
Oliver Reese, artistic director at Berliner Ensemble, said the system is integrated into the theatre’s workflows “from controlling lighting cues to distributing signals throughout the building.”
Riedel’s 1200 Series SmartPanels are used as multifunctional interfaces, supporting intercom as well as control functions from the same panel. Through the Control Panel App and hi human interface, the theatre can also control third-party systems from the same environment.
Ralf Bauer-Diefenbach, managing director at MMT, said the project shows the value of treating intercom, signal distribution, recording, playout and control as part of an integrated workflow rather than separate technical systems.
The infrastructure has also been designed for future expansion, allowing Berliner Ensemble to add permanent resources or integrate temporary rental equipment on a production-by-production basis.
Riedel will show its Stage Systems at InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas.